A Massachusetts jury has declared Karen Read not guilty in the death of her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, concluding a tumultuous legal battle that spanned three years and two highly publicized trials. Read, 45, faced grave accusations of killing O'Keefe in January 2022 by striking him with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to succumb to the cold after a night of heavy drinking.
Read's defense team contended that O'Keefe's fellow law enforcement officers were responsible for his death during a house altercation, alleging that they subsequently moved his body outside and tampered with evidence to frame Read. Throughout the trials, she maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to three charges: second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death.
On Wednesday, the jury delivered a mixed verdict, finding Read guilty only of the charge of operating a vehicle under the influence. As the most severe charges were dismissed, Read embraced her legal team amidst cheers from supporters gathered outside the courthouse.
Judge Beverly Cannone sentenced Read to one year of probation, a standard penalty for first-time offenders of operating a vehicle under the influence. Following the verdict, local television broadcasts captured the jubilant reactions of Read's supporters, many dressed in pink and chanting, "Free Karen Read." Upon exiting the courthouse, Read expressed her gratitude, stating, "I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me and my team financially and, more importantly, emotionally, for almost four years."
O'Keefe, 46, was a dedicated member of the Boston Police Department with a 16-year career and was raising his niece and nephew. Read, who had a background as an equity analyst and an adjunct professor at Bentley University, had been in a relationship with O'Keefe for approximately two years. On the night of January 28, 2022, the couple went out drinking in Canton, Massachusetts. After dropping O'Keefe off at a gathering at the home of retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, Read reported him missing the next morning. Tragically, he was found unresponsive in the snow, later pronounced dead due to blunt impact injuries and hypothermia.
Both trials were marked by contrasting narratives regarding the circumstances surrounding O'Keefe's death. Prosecutors suggested that tensions between Read and O'Keefe had escalated that night, leading to a collision during a three-point turn out of the driveway. They presented evidence of angry voicemails from Read and her comments at the scene where, according to an emergency responder, she said, "I hit him."
Conversely, Read's defense argued that her boyfriend had been assaulted by police officers inside Albert's home before his body was moved outside. They highlighted forensic analysis indicating discrepancies between the injuries O'Keefe sustained and the alleged collision, as well as suggesting that he may have been attacked by Albert's dog.
Read's first trial concluded in July 2024 with a mistrial, as jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict despite expressing that they were convinced Read was not guilty of murder or leaving the scene. The legal team subsequently filed appeals, emphasizing that double jeopardy should preclude a retrial on charges where the jury had seemingly agreed.
As the second trial commenced in April 2025, it featured 31 days of testimony from 49 witnesses, uncovering a myriad of dramatic moments. The defense challenged the integrity of the police investigation, arguing that biases and misconduct tainted the case from the outset. The lead investigator from the first trial was notably absent in the second trial due to his prior misconduct, which raised questions about the legitimacy of the evidence presented.
The outcome of this case has sparked significant public interest and debate surrounding the judicial process and the treatment of women in the legal system. Moving forward, Karen Read's case serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities involved in criminal trials and the importance of thorough and unbiased investigations.
